The Death of Bees/Lisa O'Donnell/311 pgs.

Wow! Marnie and Nelly are the products of two "crumb bum" parents. When the parents "die," Marnie and Nelly bury them in their backyard so that the authorities can't step in to separate the two sisters. Marnie is 15, and Nelly is 12, and both have pretty well taken care of themselves for years. Their next door neighbor, Lennie, takes the girls under his wing, not knowing the fate of their parents. The book is told through the voice of Lennie, Marnie, and Nelly in alternating chapters. My review isn't doing the book justice, since it was one of the more engrossing ones I have read in a long time. It was very hard to put down!